Electrically actuated fluid heating attachment for automotive engines



y 1955 M. BLESSING 2,712,815

ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED FLUID HEA TING ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOTIVE ENGINESFiled Feb. 12, 1952 /6'a, INVENTOR Z. M Blesszfiy ATTORNEY ilnited tatesEaten-t @flhce ELEUERECULLY AQTUA'EED FLUID HEATING ATTACEMENT FQRAUTQMUTEVE ENGINES This invention relates to heating devices formaintaining the liquid coolant and lubricating oil of motor vehicleengines at desired operating temperature, having particular reference toheaters which are actively employed when the associated vehicle isparked under exposed weather conditions. The invention, also. hasreference to an improved heating attachment which is adapted to beinserted in the crank case of an engine and actuated by a source ofelectrical energy available extraneously of the vehicle proper, as thelighting circuit of a garage, outdoor parking lot, or other similarparking facilities in which motor vehicles are adapted to be positionedfor extended periods of time under low temperature conditions.

The need for a conveniently usable heating appliance, adapted formaintaining the oil and liquid coolant of an internal combustion enginewarm and instantly ready for use during periods of cold weather, hasbeen recognized and various devices proposed to meet the need. Suchprior proposals, apparently for reasons of impracticability in design,or in operational characteristics, have not met with general adoption. Ideem it necessary in order to meet practical requirements that suchheating devices shall possess: simplicity in construction, ease ofinstallation, reliability and efiectiveness in operation, low cost, andthe ability of the heater to maintain at immediately employable workingtemperatures the normally liquid coolant and lubricants of motorvehicles after such engines have for some time been idle and exposed tolow climatic temperatures.

The general object of the invention, therefore, is to provide anelectrically actuated heating attachment for motor vehicle engines Whichis so constructed as to meet the aboverecited requirements.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical heateradapted for ready installation in or removal from lubricating oil sumpsprovided in crank cases of automotive engines.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment of thecharacter set forth in the form of a casing for stationary insertionwithin an engine crank case and immersion in a fluid lubricant containedtherein, and wherein an electrically energized heating element ispositioned axially and longitudinally within an internal chamber formedin the casing, the liquid coolant of the associated engine beingcirculated in the chamber and around said element.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an engine-heatingattachment in which Water-circulating pipe connections lead to and froma heating elementreceiving chamber of the heater casing, saidconnections extending to water jacket spaced provided in the cylinderblock of the associated engine, whereby to enable the heating element toapply heat to the liquid coolant while the latter is confined forcirculation in the Water jacket spaces of the cylinder block, and in amanner independent of the associated radiator of the engine.

Still, a further object of the invention is to provide 2,?i2,8 l 5Patented July 12, 1955 a heater of this character which is adapted forapplication to internal combustion engines utilizing but a single bankor block of longitudinally aligned cylinders, or to be adaptable uponslight modification to engines of the so-called V-type in which a pairof angularly related cylinder blocks are present.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an internal combustion engineequipped with the electrical heating attachment comprising the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the crank case of anengine on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Pi 1, and showing moreparticularly the internal construction of the heater attachment formingthe present invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken Fig. 6 is an endelevational view of an internal combustion casing member is normallyimmersed in a body of engine lubricating oil, indicated at 6.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, the

external threads provided on the plug 9 of an electrical heating element16.

such an electric current is supplied to the heating element from aconventional commercial circuit found in most garages or other unheatedparking areas.

t2 With such a circuit, there is connected a conductor cord 13, carryinga conventional pronged plug 14 at one end thereof adapted to be fittedseparately in prong-receiving and contact-containing openings present inthe outer end 9 of the heating element.

When not in use the plug 14 is removed from electrical engagement withthe heating element, as by withdrawing the plug 14 from the receivingopenings formed therefor in the plug 9, thereby deenergizing the coil 12of the heating element. It will be understood that the commercialelectric circuit may be suitably connected with the circuit of theheating element in any desired manner, for example, as without liftingthe hood or bonnet of an automotive vehicle in completing or breakingthe circuit to the coil 12.

The shell 11 is of uniform cross-sectional area throughout its len th,and is disposed axially and longitudinally within a coolant-receivingchamber 15 provided in the casing member 5. Coolant from the engine withwhich the heating attachment is associated is conducted to the chamber15 by way of a pipe line shown at 16 in Fig. l. The upper end of thispipe line enters the water jacket space of the block 1 by means of avalved fitting 1'7, the pipe line 16 extending from this fitting andentering the bottom of the chamber 15 at the outer end of the casingmember through an elbow-shaped connection 18, the latter communicatingat its lower end with the lower and outer part of the chamber 15.

The coolant circulates through the chamber 15, contacting the heatedexterior walls of the shell 11. By doing so the temperature of thecoolant, even in the coldest of weather, will be raised well above itsfreezing point. The heat or warmth imparted to the coolant may be usedadvantageously in warming the entire engine block, including thelubricating oil and the passages through which the oil and, also,vaporized fuels are passed to the engine cylinders. The fact that thecasing member is immersed in the lubricating oil contained in the crankcase is of advantage in enabling the heat developed through theoperation of the resistance element 10 to be effectively transmitted tothe lubricating oil. This operation maintains the oil sufiiciently warmand fluidic to flow readily through the restricted passages of aninternal combustion engine when the latter is being initially startedafter a period of idleness.

It will be noted that the outer end of the shell 11 of the heatingelement 19 is accessible from the exterior of the engine. This enablesthe heating element when desired to be readily withdrawn from the casingmember and repairs or substitution of parts made when and if necessary.

The heated coolant is discharged from the chamber 15 by way of an outletconnection 19 provided with a coupling nut 26 with which is connectedthe lower end of a coolant return pipe 21. The latter may be composed ofmetal, such as a copper alloy, or may be formed from a more flexiblematerial, such as natural or synthetic rubber. The upper end of thereturn pipe 21 is coupled with a valved fitting 22 which enters thewater jacket space of the cylinder block 1 on the same side and adjacentto the valve fitting 17 of the pipe line 16 employed in transmitting thecoolant from the engine block to the heater casing. This arrangementconfines the heated coolant for circulation in the engine block alone,independently of an associated radiator.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the casingmember indicated at 5a has the headed end 7a thereof connected withcoolant inlet pipes 16a and outlet pipes 21a. The pipes 16a and 21a areprovided at one end of the casing member 5a in addition to the pipes 16and 21 provided at the opposite end thereof. By this construction, theheating attachment is adapted to the needs of engines having cylinderblocks 1a arranged in angular or V'shaped order, as shown in Fig. 6.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides 4 a heatingattachment for motor vehicle engines by which the above expressed aimsand objects of the present invention. are achieved. The heatingattachment is carried as a component part of the engine with which it isassociated. It is merely necessary to connect or disconnect acurrent-conducting cable, such as that indicated by the cord 13, withthe soclceted outer end of the heating element in controlling theoperation of the attachrnent. The device occupies an out-of-the-wayposition in the sump portion of the crank case and does not interferewith moving parts of the engine located in the crank case. In installingthe attachment, it is merely necessary to form the opening in one of thevertical side Walls of the crank case through which the casing member isintroduced, and later secured in a permanent and effective manner as bythe Welded seam indicated at 2-3,

the welc'ng operation serving to hold the casing member rigid. againstdisplacement. Drilled openings are formed in the block 1 for thereception of the valve-carrying fittings with which the flexible coolantpipes leading to and from the engine block and heater casing areconnected. If for any reason, it should be desired to arrest the How ofthe coolant to the heater casing, as in periods of warm weather, thevalves in these fittings may be closed. it will be apparent that myimproved attachment is thus characterized by simplicity in construction,ease of installation, low cost and ability to heat both the liquidcoolant of an engine and the lubricating oil thereof, maintaining; bothfluids at optimum temperatures for quick and easy starting during coldweather operation of motor vehicles.

It will be noted that the valve coolant fittings by being located at theside of the cylinder block it and toward the rear thereof, withdrawcoolant from the engine block, heat the same in the heater casing, andreturn the coolant to the block at a position contiguous to that fromwhich it was withdrawn prior to heating. This is done order that theheater casing will be called upon to heat the coolant positioned in theengine block, and not in the radiator associated with the engine. Thisfeature contributes substantially to the effectiveness of the device andto its economy in current consumption.

While I have described and shown the sump i of the engine crank case asbeing disposed at the rear thereof, said sump may be positioned at anyconventional location. The construction of the attachment is such thatit operates normally to maintain a temperature of approximately 74 F. onthe part of the lubricating oil affected thereby, and the coolant at anaverage temperature of 58 F., these temperatures being maintained with aheating element of 240 watt capacity. While automatic thermostats may beemployed,.if desired, in obtaining these temperatures, I have found thatit is not necessary if the attachment is properly designed to secure thesame. Thus, when the proper size heating element is used, l have foundthat after certain operating temperatures are reached, the heat radiatedfrom the engine is equal to the heat produced by the element and adesirable thermal equilibrium is obtained. Conductors may lead from theplug 9 to a socket fitting provided adjacent the exterior of motorvehicle hood or bonnet and into which socket a pronged plug, such asthat shown at 14, may be inserted for current-supplying purposes. it isalso within the scope of the invention to employ heating means otherthan electricity, as by circulating steam or other heating fluidsthrough the shell 11.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for heating lubricating oil and liquid Coolants employed asoperating fluids in an internal combustion engine, the latter having acylinder block formed with a coolant-receiving jacket and a crank casehaving an oil sump, a cylindrical casing member positioned horizontallyand transversely in the sump of said case at the rear end of the engine,said casing member having one end thereof extended laterally beyond aside of said case through which said member extends, separate coolantsupplying and returning means joined with the exteriorly projecting endof said casitg member and uniting a coolant-receiving chamber providedinternally of said casing with the jacket space of said cylinder block,and a. removable electrically energized resistance element positionedlongitudinally and axially in said coolant chamber, said resistorelement being removable bodily from the exteriorly projecting end of thecasing member, and when actively positioned said element being disposedsubstantially entirely Within the confines of said crank case.

2. Apparatus for heating lubricating oil and liquid coolants employed asoperating fluids in an internal combustion engine having a cylinderblock formed with a coolant-receiving jacket and a crank case having arear- Wardly located oil sump, a cylindrical casing member extendingthrough an opening formed in one side of said case, said member beingpositioned horizontally and transversely in the sump of said case withlubricating oil contained in the case in direct contact With the outerwalls of said casing member, the latter having one end thereof extendinglaterally exteriorly of and beyond the side of the crank case throughwhich said member extends, a heating element having a resistor coilarranged in a cylindrical shell, the latter being positionedlongitudinally and axially in a coolant-receiving chamber formed in thecasing member and substantially entirely within the confines of thecrank case, said shell being supported entirely from the exteriorlyprojecting end of the casing member, and conduit means for supplying andreturning engine coolant to said member uniting the exteriorlyprojecting end of the casing member with the jacket space of thecylinder block.

3. An electrical heating attachment for automobile engines comprising astraight cylindrical coolant-receiving casing member positioned mainlytransversely and horizontally in an engine crank case at the rear of anengine, one end of said casing member only being supported by andprojecting exteriorly of said crank case, spaced coolant-conveyingteriorly projecting end of said casing member, said conduits extendingupwardly from said casing member and terminating in adjoining but spacedrelation with the coolant jacket space provided in an associated enginecylinder block, and electrically energized heat-generating means mountedwithin a coolant-receiving space formed internally of said casingmember, said heat-generating means being disposed so that substantiallyits entire length is arranged within said crank case.

Apparatus for heating automotive vehicle engines e type having acylinder block formed with a coolantrecei jacket and a crank case formedwith an oil sump, said apparatus comprising: a straight cylindricalcasing having closed ends, said casing being stationarily positioned inan opening formed in one of the side walls of said sump, said casingextending horizontally and transversely or" the sump at the rear of saidengine and having one end thereof projecting exteriorly of the sump,coolant-entering and discharging conduits joined with the exteriorlyprojecting end only of said casing member, said conduits having theiropposite ends arranged for communication with the coolant-receivingjacket of said cylinder block at positions above said casing, anelectrically actuated heating element carried by and mounted whollyWithin the confines of the crank case and said casing, said elementincluding a cylindrical outer shell of conduits joined with the exblockof an engine and the other uniform cross-sectional area throughout itslength, an electrically energized heating coil arranged Within saidshell, said shell extending axially and longitudinally of an internalcoolant-receiving chamber formed in said casing and with which saidconduits communicate, the end of said shell adjacent the exteriorlyprojecting end of said casing being formed with a plug-shaped bodyhaving removable engagement with the exterior end of said casing, theplug-shaped body of said element being formed with openings and contactselectrically joined with said coil and adapted to removably receive theprongs of a current-conducting plug member, and valve devices providedin the conduit uniting the water jacket space of said cylinder blockwith said coolant chamber of the heater casing.

Engine heating means as specified in claim 4, and wherein saidcoolant-conducting conduits are arranged at each end of said heatercasing and united therewith in pairs, one pair of said conduitsextending to one cylinder pair of conduits to a second cylinder block.

6. An electrically energized heating attachment for motor vehicleengines having an oil-receiving crank case and a cylinder block formedwith a coolant-receiving jacket, a straight tubular casing memberstationarily positioned in said case transversely thereof for immersionin lubricating oil contained within the case, said casing at its outerend extending through an opening formed in a sidewall of said crankcase, means securing the projecting outer end of the casing to the crankcase around the wall of said opening so that one end only of the casingprojects exteriorly of the case, said casing having closed inner andouter ends, there being an opening formed axially of the casing in theouter of said ends, a heating element embodying a cylindrical shellarranged in the longitudinal axis of said casing and disposed mainlywitl -n the confines or" the crank case, means for securing the shell ofthe heating element to the walls of the opening in the outer end of thecasing to effect the support of said heating element and its removalfrom the casing through the opening in the outer end thereof, andseparate coolant inlet and discharge conduits joined at their lower endswith the exteriorly projecting end of said casing, and With their upperends joined with said cylinder block for communication with the coolantjacket contained therein, whereby to provide circulation of said coolantwithdrawn from said block jacket through the interior of said casing andaround the outer surfaces of the shell of said heating element.

7. An electrically energized heating attachment for motor vehicleengines as specified in claim 6, and wherein the construction is furthercharacterized by providing the exteriorly projecting outer end of saidheating element with socket means formed for the detachable reception ofa pronged current-conducting plug joined with a source of currentsupply.

ssei'erences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

